Using Google Apps to Support DifferentiationChristine EspositoCharlottesville City Schoolshttp://goo.gl/d0PWIm

What differentiation is

According to Carol Tomlinson, differentiation is “a sequence of common sense decisions made by teachers with a student first orientation”

Definition from: http://caroltomlinson.com/Presentations/Amherst_Secondary.pdf

What is differentiation, continued

It’s making sure each student learns what he or she should learn by establishing clear goals, assessing persistently to see where each student is relative to the goals, and adjusting instruction based on assessment information - so that each student can learn as much as possible as efficiently as possiblehttp://caroltomlinson.com/Presentations/Amherst_Secondary.pdf

Tomlinson, Carol Ann and Marcia B. Imbeau. “Understanding Differentiation in Order to Lead.” Leading and Managing a Differentiated Classroom. Alexandria: ASCD, 2010. 18. Print.

Differentiate content, process or product for readiness, interest or learning profile

What differentiation is NOT

It is not a set of strategies. It is a way of thinking about teaching and learning.http://caroltomlinson.com/Presentations/Amherst_Secondary.pdf

Google Apps adds another layer in changing how you think about teaching and learning.

Creating Groups for Sharing Docs

● Use contacts to create groups○ Add students to as many groups as you

want - by class, reading group, writing group, etc. Share documents by group name rather than individual student names. Groups are easily changed.

○ Ebadi, Suu Kyi, and Sirleaf are class names○ JL #1, JL#2, and Raz-Kids are reading

group names and go across classes

Docs● Weekly Assignment Sheets● Hint Cards● Task Cards● Collaborative Writing Groups*,Planning

Documents● Anchor Activities

○ RAFTs and Choice Boards● Choose “Publish to Web” to embed in websites● Your ideas

Google Forms

● Embed into websites● Student surveys

○ Use to find out preferences, strengths, weaknesses● Parent surveys

○ I also send home paper copies as needed so that I have info from all parents.

● Clinic sign-up ○ Teacher offered or student requested clinics for

remediation/help

More Google Forms● Project check-in

○ Responses - these responses make it much easier to give students exactly what they need

● Quizzes - Flubaroo is a must!● Reading logs

○ These serve as the basis for reading conferences ● Exit slips of almost any kind● Your ideas

Sheets

● Use spreadsheets to sort data to facilitate grouping students.○ Data “Wall”○ Student profile cards

● Analyzing data○ What makes a perfect school?

● Your ideas

Blogging● Class blog: assign students to update daily● Teacher blog

○ One-stop for all class-related information○ Curation space for

■ Anchor charts no longer being displayed■ Hint and task cards, anchor activities■ Assessments, Videos, Assignments

● Individual blogs○ book reviews, current events, student choice○ Student who volunteered as tribute

● Your ideas

Sites

● Genius hour projects○ Basketball videos to help younger students improve

their game● Class website● Curation space● Filing cabinet for differentiated activities *● Your ideas

Additional uses for Google Apps ● Calendar

○ Expert of the day○ Assignment calendar○ Small group schedules○ “Clinic” dates○ Use YouCanBook.Me for student or parent conferences

● Draw or Presentation○ Collaborative projects○ Students create a postcard

● Your ideas

Genius Hour or 20% Time

During these projects, students have used:● Docs - for planning their project● Sheets - for analyzing collected data● Forms - creating surveys● Draw - making prototypes● Sites - to share their information● Blogs - reflecting on the process

Contact Information

esposic1@charlottesvilleschools.orgchrispo@gmail.comhttp://msespo.edublogs.orgTwitter:● Personal: @EspoLearns● Class account: @WalkerMLCottage